Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF

CONSECRATION OF A NEW CIRCLE

A Rite of Offering

ITEMS NEEDED: A Bell, Fire, matches, censer with incense or a smudge stick, cauldron with blessed water, world tree motif or wand or staff, images of patron deities, a horn for pouring and drinking, a pitcher, a divining tool, an offering bowl, offerings (corn meal or bread, silver, olive oil or essential oil, soil from inside the circle) and ale for offering and drinking.

Druid gives 9 knells on the bell, then the Grove members walk three times deosil around the central hallows. They end in the south, facing north. They raise their hands to the sky and say:

We are here to honor the gods. Bless us, O Shining Ones, in our workings.

Seer offers a pinch of corn meal into the World Tree offering bowl or on to the ground, saying:

Earth Mother, we are your children. Mother of all, accept this offering and bless our rite.

All place their hands on their hearts and open to the light of inspiration.

The Bard says:

Power of inspiration, attend the shrine of our souls. Quicken our tongues that we may work the rites in beauty.

Druid pours a bit of ale on the Outdwellers altar, saying:

All you of the outer dark, any who abide beyond the light of this work’s fire, accept this offering and trouble not our working.

CENTERING

All ground and center. The Seer performs the Two Currents meditation.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Druid says:

We have come to do as the wise ancients did, to come together for the creation of a new sacred place, a place of power, a place where the Three Gates will open to the Otherworlds.

There are sacred places in the world that have existed since the dawn of time; high mountains and lonely hills, forest glades and holy groves. And there are sacred places made so through the love, devotion, and worship of the people.

We come to offer to Nematona, Goddess of sacred space, and to all the Shining Ones, Ancestors and Nature Spirits.

We come especially to honor the Patrons and Matrons of this Stone Circle: Rhiannon, the Great Queen; Cernunnos, Lord of the Cull and Brigit, our Lady of Light.

WELL, FIRE AND TREE

Druid offers silver into the well, saying:

In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred well, flow within us.

Pagans:

Sacred Well, flow within us!

Bard makes an offering of oil into the fire, saying:

We kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love and power. Sacred fire, burn within us.

Pagans:

Sacred Fire, burn within us!

Druid sprinkles and Seer censes the world-tree, saying:

From the deeps to the heights spans the world-tree. Sacred tree, grow within us.

Pagans:

Sacred tree, grow within us!

Druid sprinkles everything and everyone with sacred water, saying:

By the cleansing of water let the primal sea be the boundary of the grove. Let the sea not rise, and all ill turn away.

Seer raises the incense or smudge stick and censes everything, saying:

By the light of the fire let the shining sky be the roof of the grove. Let the sky not fall and all ill turn away.

Druid and Seer mix soil from the circle and sacred water from the well into a pitcher.

The Druid circles the outside of the grove once, deosil, pouring the sacred mud out in a thin line surrounding the Stone Circle.

The Seer follows the Druid and censes the outer Circle.

Meanwhile, Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Unity In The Three Realms

Beside you I stand, hand in hand,
On this Sacred Land.

With one breath we cry, you and I,
To the Sacred Sky.

And together we one day will be
Across the Endless Sea.

When they have returned to the Circle, both Druid and Seer say together:

By fire and water let the blessed land be the founding of this sacred grove. Let the land hold firm and all ill turn away.

The Pagans contemplate the three worlds and the grove.

Pagans:

The fire, the well, the sacred tree, flow and flame and grow in me! In land, sea, and sky, below and on high! Thus is the sacred grove claimed hallowed. So be it!

OPENING THE GATES

Druid offers oil into the fire, saying:

We make this offering to the keeper of the gates. Join your magic with ours and let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree carry the spirit to our sacrifice. By this offering and our magic, let the gates be open!

Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Gatekeeper Open the Portals

Gatekeeper Open the Portals

Between the Gods and Mortals

Power freely flows

As our magic grows

(repeat)

KINDRED OFFERINGS

Druid fills the horn with ale and raise it, saying:

We make our offerings to the kindreds of the worlds, to those who dwell below, to those who dwell above, to the tribes of spirits in land, sea or sky.

Druid passes the horn to the Seer.

Seer says:

Hear your true worshippers as we make due sacrifice.
Old ones, our ancestors, remember us as we remember you!
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!

Seer pours a quarter of the ale on the ground. Seer passes the horn to the Bard.

Bard raises the horn, saying:

Spirits of this land, aid us as we aid you!

Spirits, accept our sacrifice!

Bard pours a quarter of the ale on the ground. Bard passes the horn to the Druid.

Druid raises the horn, saying:

Gods and Goddesses of elder days, Honor us as we honor you!

Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Druid pours a quarter of the ale on the ground and sets the horn aside.

Pagans say:

Gods and dead and spirits three,
Powers of earth and sky and sea,
By fire and well and sacred tree
Offerings we make to thee!

So be it!

HONORING THE PATRONS

Offerings are made to the Patron powers of the rite.

Druid 2 invokes Nematona:

Invocation of Nematona

Holy Nematona, Protectress and Guardian of sacred space, we call to You.

Fierce Lady of Power, Who guards our workings from the Outdwellers,

Who watches over places of power at all times,

And especially when no one is there, we call to You.

Great Guardian, come into Your Circle!

Druid 2 makes an offering of oil to the fire.

Pagans:

Great Guardian, come into Your Circle!

Druid 1 invokes Rhiannon:

Invocation of Rhiannon

Great Queen, Rhiannon of the blackbirds, Lady of horses, we call to You.

You who were falsely accused and bore the burden for many years,

You Whose son was returned to You, Queen of Dyfed, we call to You.

Great Mother, loving of all Her children and special to me, we call to You.

Holy One, patient one, Prophetess, Enticer, Flower Bride, Lover, Devourer, Rigatona, we call to You.

Great Queen, come into Your Circle!

Druid 1 makes an offering of oil to the fire.

Pagans:

Great Queen, come into Your Circle!

Bard invokes Cernunnos:

Invocation of Cernunnos

Cernunnos, Guardian of the cauldron of plenty, we call to You.

Horned One, Dark One, Receiver of the Dead, Granter of Rest, we call to You.

God of freedom, God of sexuality, God of cleansing, God of rebirth, we call to You.

We pray you to come in, to let Your gaze fall upon this Sacred Ground, to indwell our rite and give us Your blessing.

Great Horned One, come into Your Circle!

Bard makes an offering of oil to the fire.

Pagans:

Great Horned One, come into Your Circle!

Seer invokes Brigit:

Invocation of Brigit

Great Goddess of the fires, Brigit of the mantles, Lady of Healing, we call to You.

Matron of artisans, bearer of the milk of the sacred cow, we call to You.

Keeper of flame, light of the world, we call to You.

Great Lady, Queen of Hearts, Brigit of the Auguries, we call to You.

Come to us, bright beauty of the stars, for joy is it to those who behold You!

Great Brigit of sweet wisdom, come into Your Circle!

Seer makes an offering of oil to the fire.

Pagans:

Great Brigit of sweet wisdom, come into Your Circle!

Druid 1 says:

Let our voices arise on the flame
Let our voices resound in the well
O honored Nematona,
Hear us now as we offer up this sacrifice.

Accept our worship and reverence.
Guard this place in awe and wonder
And give us your blessing!

Druid 1 offers oil and incense to the fire.

Druid 1 says:

Great Queen Rhiannon, Great Horned Cernunnos, Bright Brigit of Wisdom, this sacred space we do dedicate to You. Bless us and hold us in the palms of your hands as we honor and worship You.

Mighty and loving Rhiannon, Summerlands Stone Circle is Yours!

Dark and sexy Cernunnos, Summerlands Stone Circle is Yours!

Bright and wise Brigit, Summerlands Stone Circle is Yours!

Pagans:

Biodh se! So be it!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Hail All The Gods

Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the holy ones we’ve brought together
Powers of the sky, Powers of the sacred earth
Powers of the underworld we’ve brought together
Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the Gods and Goddesses

(repeat)

OMEN

Druid 2 says:

Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them, asking what blessings they offer us in return.

The omen is taken. The Seer interprets the omen, leading all in contemplation of the work of Consecration.

RETURN FLOW

Druid 1 refills the horn with ale.

Pagans say in unison:

We pour the ale of inspiration,
We draw water from the well of wisdom
We call upon Nematona,
We call upon Rhiannon, Cernunnos and Brigit,
To give to us as we have given to You.
O Nematona, O Rhiannon, O Cernunnos, O Brigit,
Hallow these waters.
We open our hearts to the flow of Your blessings;
We, your children and worshippers.

Behold the waters of life!

The Pagans reverently drink the ale, meditating on the influx of magical current.

CLOSING THE GATES

Druid 1 says:

Shining Ones, mighty dead and noble ones,
We thank You for Your aid and blessing.

Nematona, Rhiannon, Cernunnos and Brigit,
We give You our thanks!

Triple kindreds, gods, dead and nature spirits:
We thank You for upholding our magic.

Lord of the gates, Lord of knowledge, we give You our thanks.

Now let the gates of the worlds be closed!

Druid 1 makes a closing triskel by circling the grove once widdershins.

Pagans say in unison:

The fire, the well and the tree
Flow and flame and grow in me!
Peace and blessings.

Druid 1 says:

The rite is ended!